Academy Notebook: Players abroad and alumni update

Quakes Academy standout Edwin Lara was named to the U17 U.S. Men's National Team roster this past week for a trio of upcoming friendlies in Spain. This will be nothing new to Lara, as he has significant experience playing at the international level with the national team. His most recent trip was as a member of the U15 men's national team on a trip to Mexico for the Copa Mexico de Naciones in August.

Lara and New York Red Bulls Academy player Tyler Adams will be the only 14-year-olds on the roster for the 2013 ASG Cup in Alicante, Spain. Head coach Richie Williams selected a 20-man roster to take overseas with him, and 15 of the 20 are currently playing with teams of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Brian Zelaya of the De Anza Force is the only player from Northern California to make the trip and face off against Academy teams of legendary club Real Madrid and La Liga rival Rayo Vallecano.

Lara was a highly touted prospect coming from his previous club team, Tecos of Hayward. He scored one goal in his two matches playing with the U16 Quakes team this season before being named to the national team roster on Sept. 24. Lara was already tabbed to play above his age level with the Quakes, but this experience will no doubt propel his game to new heights. He was considered by some to be one of the top three defenders in the United Sates in his age group and his selection to this team only confirms that notion.

This will be the first tournament for the current cycle of players who will prepare for the 2015 CONCACAF Championship.

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Alumni Update:

Sam Engs is currently playing at Penn and has been reuinted with a familiar face, Travis Pillon, who also spent some time in the Quakes Academy. The two are best friends, and having Engs there eased the transition for Pillon, a freshman, in many aspects of college life. Engs had one of the highlights of the Quakers' 2012 season, scoring the go-ahead goal against rival Harvard in the last match of the season. The Quakers' 2013 season is yet to get under way.

Wyatt McCall of Swarthmore College is off to a solid start to his 2013 season, scoring two goals and assisting on five others while starting all 9 of his team's matches. McCall is in his second season with the Garnet after a strong 2012 campaign, where he started in 14 of 21 matches and was a solid contributor on a NCAA Tournament team.